Package for novelty items



w. G. HARVEY PACKAGE FOR NOVELTY ITEMS sept. 1s, 1951 Filed Haren 5, 194s I. I l l l l l I l l Patented Sept. 18, 17951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE PACKAGE FOR NOVELTY ITEMS Wilfred G. Harvey, Leominster, Mass.

Application March 5, 194.8, Serial No. 13,140

The present invention relates to containers of the type utilized for the packaging and dispensing of novelty items which preferably are displayed on retail store counters, in order to enhance their salability.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a combination transparent article container and an opaque display card for use in retail stores.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined article container and display card which is designed so as to have a most attractive appearance, but which, at the same time, is most inexpensive of manufacture.

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements f parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the inventiomand the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a front view of the presen container and display card combination.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary rear view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary view of the transparent container portion of the present invention.

In its preferred form, the present invention comprises a flat display card member I0 which may be fabricated of any suitable material such as cardboard. This base member or card may be of any desired shape or configuration, and it is provided with an aperture II formed by die-cutting a main flap I2 out of the member. It is to be understood, however, that one side of flap I2 is hinged to the card IIJ, and thus the flap remains as an integral part of the display card. A second or auxiliary flap I3 is formed in the base member I0 by die-cutting the same in a manner similar to that employed in conjunction with the main flap I2, to the end that the auxiliary flap I3 remains as integral part of the member IIJ, and an aperture I4 is formed in the card.

Associated with the present card I IJ is a hollow transparent container element I5 which may be fabricated of any suitable transparent material such as glass or a synthetic plastic. Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, this container element comprises a base member I6, from which projects a side wall portion I1 which, in conjunction with the base member IE, forms a hollow chamber I8. The peripheral portion of the wall I1 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending flange elements I9, I9.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it is to be understood that the container member I5 is adapted to receive within its hollow chamber I8 any one of a variety of items and thereafter, it may be readily secured to the card I0 in a manner such that a complete container or package is effected. More specifically, after the container element I5 has been lled, the main flap I2 may be pulled away from the card ID in a fashion as disclosed by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thereafter the container element I5 may be inserted into the card aperture II. Upon inserting the container member within the aperture I I, it is to be particularly noted that one of the container member flanges I9 is adapted to be wedged between the lower or hinge portion of the flap I2 and the auxiliary flap I3. Also, in manufacturing the present device, the aperture Ii is made large enough to receive the container I5, but at the saine time, the flanges I9, I9 are so proportioned that they will abut against the'rear face 20 of the card Il] whenever the container is inserted through the aperture II, to the end that the container will be prevented from falling through this aperture. Once the container I5 has been so positioned within the aperture II, the main flap I2 may be shifted toward its closed position, so as to function as a closure for the container I5. From the above, it is to be understood that if the main flap I2 is held rigidly in its closed position, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the container I5 will be locked within the aperture II in a manner such that it cannot be removed without again opening the flap I2.

In order to hold the main ap I2 in its closed position, the present invention contemplates the provision of a piece of adhesive material 2I which may be applied directly to the rear face 20 of the base member I0, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it is to be understood that this piece of adhesive material 2| may be applied to 'the rear face 20 of the card in a fashion so that it substantially covers the entire surface of the flap I2 and thus, prevents the latter from opening until the piece of adhesive material is torn away. In Fig. 2, this piece of adhesive material is generally designated by the phantom dot and dash lines 22.

Once the present package unit has been so completed with the desired contents disposed within the container portion I5, it Will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that this container will present a most attractive package, and at the same time, will be extremely effective as a medium for displaying the contents of the package. In other Words, since the container portion l5 of the package is entirely transparent, the package gives the illusion of having the contents thereof resting upon the front surface 23 of the card IU. This latter feature is important for the reason that many novelty items cannot be attached directly on the display surface of a card, for the reason that such an item may comprise a plurality of separate units or, it may consist of one or more fragile elements which would be readily broken or damaged if subjected to physical contact with other .items of merchandise. Obviously, in the present invention, the container element I5 not only functions to retain all of the items to be displayed in one location upon the base member, but at the same time, it protects the same from damage, and maintains the items in a sanitary candition.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it is to be noted that the flaps I2 and i9 are disposed at the lefthand end pcrtion of the card I9, thus leaving the right-hand end portion thereof as an unbroken surface. The present invention contemplates that this right-hand end portion of the front face 23 of the card I@ should be employed as an advertising area and thus, all appropriate advertisements relative to the merchandise carried within the container portion I5, may be printed or otherwise suitably portrayed upon this surface. Thus, in Fig. 1, various intelligencetransmitting indicia, represented by lines 24, may be printed upon the Surface of the card in the form of advertising. Also, the present invention contemplates the idea of providing the front surface of the main flap l2 with appropriate drawings or other suitable indicia 24 which Will function either as an advertising medium, or as instructions regarding the assembly or use of the contents which are found within the container portion I4. This is an important feature, for if the items contained in the portion I5 require any instructions for their assembly or use, obviously such instructions must be printed upon the display card, thus requiring the manufacturer to print such instructions either upon the front or back face of the display card. If the instructions were to be printed upon the back face of the card, it would increase the cost of the card, while if they were printed on the front side at any other location other than on the flat I2, they Would take up space normally required by the user of such cards for advertising matter. However, in the present invention, since the container portion I5 of the package may be removed from the 4 display card unit without damaging the ap I2, it is advantageous to use the front surface of the flap for printing the various instructions thereon.

From the above, it is to be understood that a most novel and attractive display card and article container is effected by the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is so designed as to make for inexpensive manufacture.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a display unit, comprising, a substantially iiat card having front and back face surfaces, a flap cut from the body portion of said card to provide an opening, and having one side thereof secured to said card, a permit flexure of said iiap, a hollow transparent box having an opening therein, a flange projecting outwardly from the peripheral portion of said box adjacent the box opening, said box being insertible within the flap opening of said card, upon exure of said flap, so that the major portion of said box projects above the front face of lsaid card and with said flange abutting against the back face of said card, except along the side of said flap that is secured to said card, and means for holding said nap over the box opening forV sealing the opening and retaining said box in position on said card.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a display unit comprising, a at card having front and back surfaces, a iap cut from the body of said card to provide an aperture, with the base of said-flap secured to said card to permit flexure thereof, a second flap, smaller than the first flap, cut from the body of the card along the base of said first flap, a hollow transparent boX having an opening therein and a iiange extending around said opening, said box being insertible within the card aperture upon flexure of said first flap, to project beyond the front surface of said card, with its flange engaging the back surface of said card, as well as said smaller flap, with said first flap serving to close the box opening and to hold said box in position within said card aperture.

WILFRED G. HARVEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Oct. 7, 1927 

